Elevator signaling system



Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,876 I E. P. BUTUSOV ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed May 1925 3-Sheet-Sheet 1 Jan. 22, 1929. 1,699,876

E. P. BUTUSOV ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed May 1 925 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jan. 22, 1929.- 1,699,876

E. P. BUTUSOV ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM Filed May 1, 1925 s sheets-shoe; 5

Patented Jan. 22, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EMIL P. BUTUSOV, OF HOLLYWOOD, ELINOIS, ASSIGhTOR F ONE-HALF '10 DANIEL LEWY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ELEVATOR SIGNALING SYSTEM.

Application filed May 1,

My invention relates to trafiic signaling systems and isof especial utility in connecti on wit-h elevator signaling systems to which, however, the invention is not to be limited,

=3 and has a number of objects and advantages in view. M

when: thc lrnflic system employs a number f vehicles, vehicle actuated switching mech- :mism is employed that serves in conjunction lu with the manually cont-rolled signalling mvitchcs or push buttons, to cause the signal devices upon the vehicles to operate only when the vehicles are traveling in the direction corresponding ,to the employed manual; ly operated signaling switch.

The invention, in another of its characteristics, relates peculiarly t0.elevator or traflie systems employing a plurality of cars or vehicles moving in adjacent.paths. Such .sys.-.

tem is, in accordance witlr'my invention, pro; vided with vehicle opera-ted. switching mechanism which serves in conjunction with .the employed manuitlly' controlled signaling switches to operate the floor onstage signal devices which correspondto the elevator ears or vehicles that are nearest and'approaching the floors or stages corresponding to the employed manually controlled switches." The arrangementis preferably such that the floor or stage signal devices instantly respondupon the operation of the manually controlled switches irrespective of the distance of the approaching vehicles. Provisionis further ma do whereby if anycar or vehicle of a. group whose floor or stage signal device has been opcmted is passed by another, the particular signal produced by this signal device will be canceled and the floor or stage signal correspond ing to the passing; car orvehicle will be presented instead. p

The invention has other characteristics and advantages and will be fully explained in connection with the accompanying drawings in which Figs. 1, 2 and 3 taken. collectively and placed side by side with Fig.- 2 between Figs. 1 and 3. diagrammatically illustrate an elevator signaling system constructed in accordance with the preferred embodimentof my invention.

The elevator system illustrated includes three cars 1, 2 and 3. Each car is caused to travel vertically by any suitable forin of oldvator operating mechanism which may be inclusive oi the car suspending cables 4 passing over sheaves 5, 6, and having counter-weights 1925. Serial No. 27,273.

7 attached thereto. Five floors are indicated at 8, 9, 10, 11 and 12, the drawings indicating that there may be floors below and above the indicated floors. The cars 1, 2 and 3 are respect-ively provided with signal devices (In-rcon that are desirably in the form of lllt'illh descent lamps-13, l4 and 15. Each car is pro vidod at. each floor with a down signaling device and an up signaling device, these signahng devices being also'preferably in the form of incandescent lam ps. More specifica l- 1 and in order to aid in the description of the diagram, elevator 'car 1 is provided with down signaling lamps 16, 1?;18, 19 and 20, and up signaling lamps 21,22, 23, 24 and 25-, respectively at floors 8,'9,-10, '11 and lfl; elevatorcar 2 is provided with down Slg'l'lalln g lamps"26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, and up'signalng'lamps 31 32, '33, 34- and 35 respectively upon-said floors; and elevator'ca-r' 3 is prowith ddwh-signaling'hnnps 35,37, 38; 3. and 40aridup sigrialingdamps-41.312; 4-3. 44 and f$5also respectively enman floors. The floor push buttons or'switchhi 46, 47. 48 -49 and-5 0 locatedrespectively.at the fioz'mcjS. 9; 1Q,'11 a'n d 125 respeetivlyfpertainl to the down signallampsupon these floors, for'cansmg their operation. The floorpush 'lmttons or switehe's' til'im', 353;54 and 55 provided respectrvely upon the lioors'flj 9; 10, 11 ,and 12 pertain to the np-s'ignallamps'upon those floors. Switches56,'57,- 58,59, 60,- 61, 62, 63. 64,. and respectively. supplement the switches 46, to 55 inclusive to enable the latter switches to bet-released. The switches 56 to 65 inclusive are provided with operating magnets 56,67, 68; 69. 70, 71, 72, 73, 74. and '75, respectively individual thereto. Whenever a push buttonjs depressed its associate magnet and switch arci operated to-establish and maintain: circuitfchanges as will appear. Foneirainple, 'the push button 46, I shown momentaizily depressed, establishes circuit for-its associate magnet 66 which may be traced from the positi've pole of the generator 76 through the winding of the mag-- net 66, the contactbf'the pushbutton 46 to the negative poleof said generator. The corresponding armature switch 56 is lightly held in the position to whiclr it is moved by the magnet 66'by meansof a spring 56; the similar armature switches pertaining to the other push buttons being-similarly equipped. The circuits established or controlled by the operated armature switch pertaining to signaling has been accomplished any armature switch such as the armature switch 56 which has been brought to a circuit closing position, is restored to its idle position bya restoring magnet, there being restoring magnets 77, 78, 79, so, s1, 82, as, s4, s5, 86, rc-

spec-ti vely individual to the armature switches 56 to inclusive.

The elevator car 1 has a group of switch members 87, S8, B9, and that may be cfiective when the car is traveling downwardly,

whenever a down floor switch or push button is operated- This car is also provided with another group of switch members 91, 92, 93, and 94 that may be effective when the car is traveling upwardly, whenever an up floor switch or push button is actuated. These switch members 87 to 91 inclusive are shown as being in the form of. contact wipers or arms which are fixed upon the shaft 95 that may be moved longitudinally and also rotated. The means for rotatin the shaft 95 is diagrammatically illustrate as being inclusive of a shaft 96 carrying the sheave 97 that is driven from the .shaft of ,sheave fi. The shaft-.96 drives the-meshing bevel pinions that drive the elongated spur pinion 99. This pinion is in mesh with a spur gear 100. As the elevator mechanism causes the elevator to travel it also causes the shaft 9 5 torotate.

' When the elevator car is moving downwardly the switch membcrs.87 to 90; inclusive should be alone effcctivcto engage'the waiting contacts pertaining thereto. When the elevator car is traveling upwardly the switch members 91 to 94 should-be aloneefl'ective to engage the waiting contacts pertaining thereto. The wipers of each group are brought into contacting range ojtheir waiting contacts when the w1pers of the other group. are removed from contacting range. with their waiting contacts and by moving the shaft 95 longitudinally. In Fig. 1 this shaft is shown as having beenadjusted to the left to bring the wipers 87=to 90 inclusive into contacting range of their waiting contacts and the wipers 91 to 94 inclusive out of contacting range with their waiting contacts. This result may be accomplished by providing the shaft 95 w th a grooved collar 101 which receives the p 1ns upon the ends of a fork'102 which is earned upon the armature 103 that 15 common to two magnets 104 and 105. The magnet 105 is caused to be energized by the elevator mecha-- nism when the elevator car'is traveling downwardly and the magnet 104 is caused to he energized when the elevator is trayelingupwardly. The means shown f or energizing these magnets includes a. switch arm 106 which is held in frictional engagement with the shaft 96 by means of the spring pressed clamp 107. 'lVhcn the car is traveling downward, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the switch arm 106 is turned ima counterclockwise direction until it enga es the contact 108 which is individual to the magnet 105, the circuit for this magnet being thereby closed to place the shaft 95 in its left-hand position illustrated. The circuit for the magnet 105 is traceable from the positive pole of the generator T0 through the winding of the magnet, the contact 108, the armature switch 106, the shaft 96, the conductor 109 to the negative pole of the generator. After the switch arm 100 has engaged the contact 108, a result which occurs during the first few feet of the downward movement of the elevator, the shaft 06 may continue to rotate as the elevator descends owing to the slipping engagement then oc curring between the arm 106 and the shaft 96. Similar results occur when the elevator car ascends, the switch arm 106 then being thrown into engagement-with the contact 110 with the result that the circuit of the magnet 105 is opened and the circuit of the magnet 104 is closed, the circuit of the latter magnet being apparent from the description which was given of the circuit of the former. When the m "not 104 is energized the shaft 95 is bodily s iiftcd to the right to make the wipers 87 to 90 inclusive ineffective and to make the wi ers 91 to 94, that were previously inefi'cctive, now effective.

Elevator we is in controlling relation with switching wipers'that arc similar in function andaxrangementto the wipers dcserihed in connection with elevator car 1 and which are operated and made effective and ineffective by apparatus similar to that employed in connection: with elevator car 1. The wipers and the elements of the controlling equipment therefor which pertain. to elevator car 2 that are respectively similar in function and arrangement to the wipers and the elements of the controlling equipment-therefor that pertain to elevator ca r 1 are respectively given similar charactcrs of reference with added prime exponents. The wipers and the elements of the controlling equipment therefor which pertain to elevator car 3 that are respectively similar in function and arrangement'to the wipers and the elements 91' the controlling equipment therefor that pertain to the elevator cars l and 2, are respectively given similar characters of reference with the exponent 2 added to each.

The wipers 87 87', 87 pertain to signals 13, 14 and 15 which are upon the elevator cars, each of these wipers having a hank of waitin contacts. each contact of a bank being individual to a floor and reached by the corresponding wipcr two floors or so in advance of the arrival of the corresponding car at the floor to which the engaged Contact is individual. Each of these wipers has a waiting contact'individual to each of the floors.

contact to establish circuit for the'si its the cars travel downwardly these waiting contacts are successively engaged to partially close the circuits of-the correspondin signal devices upon the elevator cars. W on a passenger wishes to descen'cl'from an upper floor he depresses a down push button, push button 46 for example, which establishes the circuit of the corresponding magnet, magnet 66 in this instance, as hitherto deseri ed, thereby placing the associate switch, switch 56 in this instance, in engagement witlli (its a e vice upon the ear nearest and descen ing toward the floor of the waiting passenger, a result which occurs, say, twofloors or slightly more away from the floor of the waiting passenger. As illustrated, the descending car 2 is nearer the floor of the signalim passenger, the circuit for the-signaling device or lamp 14 on this car being established when the car is sufficiently close to the floor of the waiting passenger, this circuit being traced from the positive pole of the generator ,76,

through the conductor 111, the actuated supplemental switch (in this instance the switch 56), the contact engaged by this switch, the

waiting contact of the wiper 87 which is individual to the floor that is two floors or so above the door of the signaling passenger, the

wiper 87 the signal dcvice or lamp 14 upon the car 2 to the'ne ative pole of the nerator. The wiper 87', as is also the case wi all mp- 018 that are in controlling relationtothel'signal lamps upon the cars, has "bifurcated branches a, I), that themselves constitute a. pair of spaced apart electrically connected wi ers, the. arcnate len 11 of the wiper a being s orter than the arcuate length of the wiper b and spaced soifarapa'rt therefrom thatthe' elevator attendant may receive a momentarywarning signal at a greater distance from'. the floor of the depressed downbutton than the prolonged signal which i's'later initiated and maintained by the broader wiper 6, both wip: ers a and l) sweeping bverthe'same' wa-iting' contacts. The lamp 14 isexcluderl from ci'rcuit before the ca r reaches the floor o f'the signnii ng passenger due to the disengagement of the wiper b from the waitin contact engaged thereby, a. disengagement which does not occur until the car is at this oint in its downward travel. The controlo the signaldevices in the cars effected by the up wipers 91, 91' and. 91 in conjunction with any depressed up floor button will be readilyunderstood from the description of the control of the signal lamp 14 in car 2, the circuit arrangements and apparatus that control thesignals in the cars when the cars travel upwardl being similar to the circuit arrangements an apparet us that control these signals when the cars travel downwardly. The up wipers are made ineffective when the cars are traveling donwa'rdly and the down wipers are made iueil'cctive' when the cars are traveling upwardly by shifting the shafts carrying these wipers in the manner hitherto described.

Continuing the description of the results which follow upon the depression of the down push button or floor switch 46 which has been chosen as an example, the down tloor lamp 26 individual to the nearest approaching and dcsccndin elevator 2 is instantly caused to glow, and continues to glow until the car 2 reaches and slightly passes the floor of the signaling passenger, these results occurrin unless some other car, say descending car 1, s ould pass car 2 before the latter ear reaches the floor of the signaling pa senger. whereupon the down floor lamp 26 individual to the car2, is disconnected fmm'circuitand the down floor lamp 16 individual to car 1 is connected in circuit. The lamp 16 now continues to glow until the descending car 1 reaches the floor of the signaling passenger unless this car-in turn should be passed by another descending car before, reaching the floor of the waiting passenger, whereu on the vdown'fi'oor lamp individual tothis 0t 1e: car will be caused to glow'until this other car reaches the. floor of the waiting passenger, etc. The circuit establishedfor the down sig nalfl'lamp 26 ,t-hat is' individual to the 'car 2 maybe traced: from the positive pole 'of the generator! through-the armature switch 56, the-contact of this armature switch,-to the right over the conductor" leadingfto signal lamp 26', thence through signal lamp 26,

over .the 'eonductor leading to the left' tbcon'ductor 112-individual to the car 2, thence along conductor 112 tothe' tie-in point just below theiefiaciiig switches 121,126 and 131. thenceto the-right over the conductor and down-over the 'coridiictoi' 'leading to the waiting-coiitaetof the down wiper 90' which is reached by this wiper usually when the on r is several floo rs above the door of the signalin; passenger, theiwaiting contacts of this winer' being :respcctively' individual to the ding-mentors, said wiper 90" to the negative pole of the geni'iratori -When the car 2 which has'received the wait-ing passenger resumes itsjourney,'the circuit of lamp 2G isopenecl by moving the switch away'from its contact; a result which -is brought about by energizing the relay 77 whichthen -inoves the switch 56 'away from the position to which this switch was moved '-b v magnet 66. magnet 77 being unopposed by the magnet 66 due to the release of the push button 46. The circuit of thesi'gnal efiacing magnet 77 may be traced from the positivepole of the generator 76 through the magnet 77, the waiting contact of the wiper 89', then engaged by this wiper,

the waitingcontacts-pertaining to this wiper being respectively individual to the different floors asis the ease with the waiting contacts of allthe wipers, said wiper 89' tothe negative pole of said generator.

- The down signaling conductor 112 that is included the circuit of the employed down signal devices, such as the lamp 26, is individual to the car 2, as has been stated. Car 1 has a similar down signaling conductor 113 tion with the down signaling conductors 112,

113, and 114,.wi1l be desci ibcd specifically. The conductor 112, contains a set of five of these switches 118, 119, 120, 121 and 122, each individual to afloor. The conductor 114 includes the switches 123, 124, 125. 126 and 127 each also individual to a floor. The-conductor 113 contains the switches 128, 129, 130, 131

and 132. each also individual to a floor. The

trios of switches; that are individual to the floors are respectively mounted upon solenoid plunge1s133, 134 135, 136 and 137.. These plungers are arranged to be elcctro-ma etically operated. to move. the switchessnnul taneously' to circuit opening position, the

plnngers being respectively provided'for this purpose with solenoid coils 138, 139, 140, 141 and 142 The elevator mechanism of 'each car serves to operate switching mechanism which causes the trios of the down switches to be opened beyond the portion of the .down signaling. conductor available or necessary for inclusion-in the circuit of the floor signal lamp corresponding'to the depressed floor button or switch andindividual to the'elevator car. Any other car passing this cartoward the floor of the waitin passenger will cause the succeeding trio 0? switches to he opened to prevent the floor signal of the passed car from being manifested or eiiace 1t and-to permit the floor signal of the passing car to be manifested. To this end thesolenoids or magnet-s 138, 139, 140, island 142 are connected with waiting contacts which pertain to the down wipers 88, 88' and 88, the waiting contacts of each of these-wipers being respectively individual to the various floors. It is obvious that the car nearest and approaching the lloor of the signaling passenger will cause the opening of switches be yond the portion of the down signaling conduetor 112,113 or 114 that may lac-employed in the circuit of the floor signal individual to this car, thereby instantly cutting off the re mainder of the down signaling conductor em-- ployed for operating the signal individual to this car and opening the down signaling conductors pertaining-t0 the other cars that are farther away and preventing the floor signals individual to these other cars and upon the floor of the waiting passenger from being Operated, or cutting these signals out. if they have been operated and the cars individual thereto have been passed.

The circuits of the switch opening magnets 138, 139, etc, will be readily understood from an inspection of the diagram. In this instance the magnet 1-11 has been energized to prevent the fioor signal on the floor of the signaling passenger and fl lleapmilllng to any car above car 2 .ir'om being operated. The circuit for this. magnet 141 may he traced from the positivepole of the generator 76 through the winding of thislnagnet to the waiting contact of wiper 88 then engaging th s contact to thenegatu'o terminal of said generator, the engagement-of the wiper S8 with the contact that (muses-the cncrgizatinn of the magnet 141 occurring at sullicient numberof floors in advance or the floor having the operated floor switclrfi. The up signaling cenrlnctms 115, 116 and 117 are inclusive of similar switches and as sociated elements,- these switches and assoelated elements-be ng res ectively given characters ofi reference slllillfll to characters of referenceapplied' to the switches and associated elements pertaining to the down signalin ,condruotors v.112, 113 and 114, with adde prime exponents. The solenoids portaining to the up switches are governed by the wipers Q2, 92. and '92 .It'is. not believed that a. repetition of the description givenin connection with the down signaling conductors 112, 113 and 114, the down switchesimthese conductors, and the down switch ppeningmagnets, need be virtuallyrepeatedin cpnjunction with these elemenus-shown, in association with the up-signaling conductors 115, 116, 117.-

The only instruinental ities. which need he carried by the ears are the signal lamps 13 individual to the cars together with the flexible conductors including the lamps and dis posed incables suitably attached to the cars, in accordance with common practice. The only instrumental-ides which are required to have location upon thevarious floors are the up signal lamps :and downsignal lamps 16.

' 21, etc., pertaining to the cars and provided upon each of the doors where "they are requirod, and the liner switches or-other push buttons 46, etc, for the use of passengers in operating the signal lamps upon the cars and the signal lamps upon the floors. The pairs at magneteW, 66, etc, together with the switches 56, etc., controlled thereby, the sets of signal cffacing switches 118 1:22, l23--127 etc.,- that are individual to the cars, and all of the remaining apparatus and wiring-are disposed wherever it is most convenient, thegreaterpart of this equipment being generally ple. ced-in-tl1e elevator shafts.

N 0 claim is made to the signal device conveying a preliminary signal which warns the operator to be prepared to heed the prolonged signal which is to follow, but claims thereto are presented-in my copending application Serial No. 147,958, filed Nov. 12, 1926.

Changes may be made without departing from my invention.

Having thus described my invention I claim:

1. In an elevator system fora plurality of cars moving past a'plurality of floors, landing signals at each floor for each car, push buttons at each floor, means actuated upon the operation of anypush button at any floor to operate immediately the landing signal for the car nearest the floor and means operated by any car which overtakes the first named car before the latter reaches the said floor for canceling the signal for the first named car and for operating the signal-for the overtaking car.

2. In an elevator system, the combinatitin' with two vertically traveling cars; of signal devices, one individual to each car upon each of a plurality of fioors traverscdbyjhe cars; each car having a signal restoring wipenindividual-thereto including means-for actuat-V ing said wi er,-. contacts individual: tois'aid wiper, there eing=a different contactior each signal device; signaling circuitsinchiding said signal devices and said signal'r'e'storing wipers and the individual contacts; two sets of signal ellacing switches, each car having a set individual thereto, each switch of each set being individual to a different signal device and included in the circuit of thesignal restoring wiper individual to the corresponding car; electro-magnets, each individual to a different pair ofsignal efiacing switches pertaining to both cars for opening these switches; each car having a signal efiacing wiper individual thereto including means for actuating said wiper, contacts individual to said wiper, there being a dilferent contact for each electro-magnet and included in the circuitthereof together with the individual signal e'lfacing wiper.

3. In an elevator system, the combination with two vertically traveling cars; of signal devices, one individual to each car upon each of a plurality of floors traversed by the cars; each on r having a signal restoring wiper individual. thereto including means for actuating saiiln'i wr, contacts individual to said wiper, there being a different contact for each signal device: signaling circuit-s including said signal devices and said signal restoring wipers and the individual'contacts; a waiting passenger-controlled switch upon each floor including initiating and restoring relays therefor and common to the circuits of said signal devices to restore said signals; two sets of signal eflacing switches, each car having a set individual thereto, each switch of each set be- -for devices to restore said slgnals, each car hav- 1n a relay resettin wiper individual thereto net and included in the circuit thercof tm gather with the indi idual signal cfi'acing wiper.

4. In an elevator system, the combination with two vertically traveling cars; of signal devices, one individual to each car upon each of a'plurality of floors traveised'by the cars; each car having a signal restoring wiper individual thereto includin means for actuating said wiper, contacts individual to said wiper,

there being a difi'erent contact for each signal device; signahng circuits including said signal devices and said signal restoring wipers and the individual contacts; a waiting pas-- scnggf-cgnmollcd sw1tch-upon each floor 1ncIu mltlatlng and restoring relays there-'- common to the circuits of said signal in'c ndin means ibr' actuating said wiper, contacts individual to said wiper, there belng a diflerent contact for -each restoring relay, circuits including .said restoring relays and said resetting wipers and the individual contacts; two sets of signal efia-cing switches, each car having a set individual thereto, each switch of each set being individual to a different signal device and includedin the circuit of the signal restoring wiper individual to the corresponding car electro-magnets, each individual to a, different pair of signal eflacing switches pertaining to both cars for opening these switches; each car having a signal efiacing wiper individual thereto including means for actuating said wiper, contacts individual to said wiper, there being a different contact for each electro-magnet and inclined in the circuit thereof together with the individual signal eifacing wiper.

5. In an elevator system, the combination with two verticallytraveling cars; of signal devices, one individual to each car upon each of a. plurality of floors traversed by the cars; each car having a. signal restoring wiper individual thereto including means for actuating said wiper, contacts individual to said wiper, there being a different contact for each signal device; signaling circuits including said signal devices and said signal restoring wipers and the individual contacts; a waiting passenger-controlled switch upon each floor including initiating and restoring relays therefor and common to the circuits of said signal devices to restore said signals; signal efi'acing switches, one individual to each signal device and included in the circuit thereof and individual to each car and each floor, and means actuated by the operating mechanism of said cars for eleetromagnetically opening said switches simultaneously in floor groups so that the signals pertaining to one car will be effaced when this car is passed by the other car, traveling in the same direction with the first car.

6. In an elevator systo1n,'the combination with two vertically traveling cars; of signal devices, one individual to each car upon each of a plurality of floors trarersedby the cars; each car having a signalrestoring wiper individual thereto including means fol-actuating said wiper, contacts individual to said wiper,- there being a. different contact for each signal device; signaling circuits including said signal devices'and said signal restoring wipers and the individual contacts; signal ei facing switches one individual to'eaeh-signal device and included in the circuit thereof and individual to each car and each floor and means actuated b the operating mechanism of said cars for e ectromagnetically opening said switches simultaneously in floor groups so that the signals pertaining to one car will he efiaced when this car is passed by the other car, traveling in the same direction with the first car. p

7. In an elevator system, the combination with two vertically traveling cars; of signal devices, one individual to each car upon each of a plurality of floors traversed by the cars; each car having a. signal restoring wiper i dividual thereto including means for actuatin g said wi er, contacts. individual to said wiper, there eing a differentcontact for each being a difi'erent contact for each restoring; relay, circuits including said restoring relays and said resetting wipers and the individual contacts; signal eifacing switches, one individual to each sigml device and included in the circuit thereof and individual to each ca and each floor and means actuated by the operating mechanism of said cars for elect! magnetically opening said switches simultaneously in floor groups sothat the signals pertaining to one an will be efi'aced when this car is passed by'the other car, traveling in the same direction with the first can.

In witness whereof,, I hereunto subscribe by naine.

. EMIL P. BUTUSOVZ- 

